AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“A car?”
“Yes, Gianna. A car,” he repeated. “In fact, use mine now to go home so my driver will know where to pick you up, and I’ll have an associate of mine fetch me on his way to our meeting.”
Before I knew what was happening, I’d been bundled into the back seat of a gleaming, black town car. When the driver pulled up in front of my parent’s house, I realized I hadn’t even given him the address. He already knew how to find the house. Which meant there really hadn’t been any need for him to drive me home, and Nic had darn well known it. Sneaky man.
FOUR
Nic
“Brandon. Wait a second.” My best friend since childhood turned from where he’d been headed toward the door and walked back over to me. He was also the man who would step in as my number two when I eventually took over. He stopped by the table and ran his hands over his buzzed, black hair, the short sleeves on his t-shirt displaying his many tattoos. He definitely looked the part of the enforcer, and we used it to our advantage often.
“What’s up, Nic?”
I waved for him to take a seat and waited until it was only he and my uncle left in the room with me.
“There’s been movement in the O’Reilly organization. Word is, someone is trying to move up in the ranks by taking on the DeLucas.”
Brandon ran frustrated hands over his head and blew out a breath. “You getting this from Silas?”
“Among other sources,” Antonio confirmed. “I wouldn’t put too much stock in it if it were only that booze hound. But, his information is usually correct and when I heard the same from an informant, I knew we needed to take it seriously.”
“An informant?” Brandon repeated incredulously.
There wasn’t much Brandon didn’t know about family business, but the fact that we’d been approached by someone in the O’Reilly family six months before was one of them. My uncle and I were contacted by someone wanting out and in exchange for our help, she agreed to spend some time acting as our informant. We would never have asked it of her, but she was anxious to boot her father out of his place as the head of the organization so she would be completely free of his tyrannical reign when she finally left.
As much as I trusted Brandon, I wasn’t willing to risk anyone knowing about Carly. Her position was too precarious and the information she provided too vital. But, with the way things were moving, I knew it was time to bring him in.
“I’m sorry we didn’t tell you before now, brother, but I wanted to keep the circle as small as possible. It’s Grady’s daughter Carly, and the situation is so fucked up, we need your help.”
He nodded, aware that being the number two meant he didn’t have to deal with one hundred percent of the bullshit, but always willing to help lighten mine and Antonio’s load.
“I’m moving someone in with me on Saturday. I’m going to have my hands full with her”—I was aware of the double meaning in that statement, and Antonio’s smirk said he was too—“as well as protection for Sophia and my mother.”
Brandon’s eyebrows shot up into his hairline. “You decided Sophia needs a live-in nanny? Are you crazy? You’ll have a full-time job just keeping her away from the family business.”
“It’s going to be her family soon too”—Brandon’s face went slack with surprise—“but you’re right, for the moment, I’d like to keep her clear of it all. That’s why I need your help. I can’t help feeling as though the shit is about to hit the fan. I need you to become Carly’s shadow. If you get even the tiniest whiff that she’s blown, pull her out and get her into hiding. She’s more than earned our protection.”
He nodded, still looking a little shell-shocked. “Whatever you need, man. You know I’ll get it done.” We both stood to shake hands, our free ones rapping each other on the back a couple of times.
“Let me get Gianna settled, then I want you to come and meet her. If I bring you over too soon, you’ll scare the fuck out of her,” I jibed. Brandon flipped me the bird and loped out of the room, laughing.
“So,” Antonio drawled, drawing my attention, “moving her in so soon?” His grin betrayed his lack of surprise.
“Mamma isn’t happy about the sleeping arrangements, but she’ll have to live with it until I get Gianna to marry me.”
This time, he did register a little shock. “You’re moving her into your room?”
“Not on Saturday,” I explained. “But, I fully intend to get her pregnant as soon as possible, so those arrangements won’t last long.”
Antonio burst out laughing. “Such a DeLuca,” he muttered through his guffawing.
